He Saved My Life

CHAPTER 9 ---- Crushed

After school, I was forced to ride home with Joey. Tom offered me a ride and I thought Joey was going to knock his teeth out. So here we are sitting in a car, the heat turned on low and some rock band making my ears bleed. I had nothing to say and apparently, neither did Joey.

"So..." I said. He didn't say anything. He just kept looking straight ahead.

"This is why I'd rather be with Tom," I mumbled.

"Maybe you should just date Tom. He would love that, you know? Try getting out of that one. It won't be a rumor, it will be true," he said surprising me. Why was he acting like this. We were friends earlier today. Why did I have to keep fixing things between us.

"Joey..." I didn't even finish. He was really making me mad and I didn't want to deal with it. "Just let me out here. I can walk the rest of the way," I said, my hand already on the door handle.

he shook his head. "No, Layla. It's cold outside and you're going to freeze."

"I'd rather freeze out there alone than in this stupid car with you. Turn the freaking heat on, why don't you? It's to cold for this crap!" I ranted. "Now stop the car and let me out!" I demanded.

"Layla-"

"JOEY, LET ME OUT NOW!" I screamed. I didn't want to be within three feet of him right now.

"Layla, I can't do that," he refused. He bit his lip. I huffed and unbuckled my seat-belt.

"I'm not kidding. Let me out or I will jump out of this moving car," I warned. He stopped the car and grabbed my shoulder.

"I'm sorry," he said. I shook my head. I hated seeing him like this, but he deserved it.

"Yeah, you should be," I replied.

"Don't do this!" he said. "I don't want you to be mad at me!"

"I'm sorry, Joey. Just, call me later and we can work things out, I hope," I told him. I got out and slammed the door shut. I waved and started walking down the street. I didn't see him drive by me on my way back home, so that means he probably went somewhere else... my thoughts began to wonder.

What if he was with Jane? He could be telling her how much he now hates me. She could be comforting him. They could be hugging. She could feel a little too sorry for him. She could kiss him. He could kiss her back. They could date. They could fall in love. SHUT UP LAYLA.

"Get in," someone says. I look over and see Tom, his car stopped in front of me. I smiled and greatfully got in.

"Thank you," I said. He smiled and started driving.

"I thought Joey was giving you a ride," he said.

"I told him I wanted to walk," I replied casually. I didn't really want to tell him why, but I knew for sure that he would ask. I was prepared for the question.

"Layla, why did you want to walk?" he asked. I knew it.

I took a deep breath. "Joey is jealous," I said.

"Of who?" Tom asked. I knew that was coming too.

"Well, you."

He laughed. "Me?" the amusment on his face was nice. It brightened my mood too.

"Yeah, he's jealous of you and I got mad so I told him that I wanted to walk," I explained.

"He's got nothing to be jealous of, does he?" Tom questioned. I wasn't expecting this question.

I shook my head. "No, of course not. Besides, we're just friends, right? I mean, Joey and I are just friends. Why would he be jealous?" I asked him.